What do you hate about Port Townsend? (Seattle, Tacoma: sale, real estate market)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
We are moving from CA (Sacramento) next summer. We are retiring and, after 35 years here, I cannot take the heat. I am actually longing for less sun and cooler temperatures.
We have narrowed it down to two places. Portland OR and Port Angeles WA. They are different. Big versus small city. But we love both places for different reasons.
What is not so easy to see is what are the negative things about the area. You usually have to live in a place for a while to see them.
That's where we need help.
So... what do you hate about Port Angeles?
Thanks....
Last edited by bobkeenan; 11-14-2010 at 05:09 PM..
Reason: I put the wrong city in
Your thread title says "What do you hate about Pt. Townsend" ... your text asks "what do you hate about Pt. Angeles?" Which are you asking about: Pt. Townsend or Pt. Angeles? VERY different places! If you are meaning Pt. Townsend, my answer is: [hate] nothing. If you mean Pt. Angeles: [hate] -- oh where do I start!
I go often to both places, as I live on one of the islands in the north Sound and have friends in both. I actually like my time in Pt. Angeles and enjoy, deeply, all the surrounding area. But it is quite depressed -- and all the realities that go with.
You will get WAY less sun and MUCH lower temperatures both places compared to Sacramento. Townsend is quaint and partly touristy (in a fun-ish way) with a fairly lively and fairly educated and more affluent population than Angeles.
You will also get WAY less sun and MUCH lower temperatures in Portland -- which city is plenty of funky in a fun way ... plenty to do and see and access to great outdoor activities from the Columbia river and ocean beaches not too far ... mountains and hiking, skiing, etc the other. Can't hardly go wrong there escaping Sacramento.
Your thread title says "What do you hate about Pt. Townsend" ... your text asks "what do you hate about Pt. Angeles?" Which are you asking about: Pt. Townsend or Pt. Angeles? VERY different places! If you are meaning Pt. Townsend, my answer is: [hate] nothing. If you mean Pt. Angeles: [hate] -- oh where do I start!
I go often to both places, as I live on one of the islands in the north Sound and have friends in both. I actually like my time in Pt. Angeles and enjoy, deeply, all the surrounding area. But it is quite depressed -- and all the realities that go with.
You will get WAY less sun and MUCH lower temperatures both places compared to Sacramento. Townsend is quaint and partly touristy (in a fun-ish way) with a fairly lively and fairly educated and more affluent population than Angeles.
You will also get WAY less sun and MUCH lower temperatures in Portland -- which city is plenty of funky in a fun way ... plenty to do and see and access to great outdoor activities from the Columbia river and ocean beaches not too far ... mountains and hiking, skiing, etc the other. Can't hardly go wrong there escaping Sacramento.
Ooops I messed up thanks for letting me know.
We just spent a week in Port Townsend. Great little town but the housing is no bargain. Houses are actually a little more expensive than here in Sacramento. That surprised us. It also seems much more tourist oriented than I am used to. Port Angeles was no where as cute but seemed much more real. We also hit it on a sun lit fair day and with the mountains on one site and the strait on the other the scene was breathtaking. We could get a mansion there or get a slightly smaller home and have a LOT of money left over for other fun. Its also much more politically mixed. Sacramento, especially in my neighborhood, if you dont' espouse socialism you are considered a moron. I like more fair debates.
And I have a rare disease where I cannot take heat and sun at the same time... so I will love it there... my wife will crave the sun though.
And I have a rare disease where I cannot take heat and sun at the same time... so I will love it there... my wife will crave the sun though.
If your wife craves the sun, be realistic about moving to a region that can be gray and drizzly for several weeks at a time during the winter. This typically lasts from November or so through March or even April- yes, that's upwards of half of the calendar year! Even though it seems like it some winters I would hesitate to say gray "for months at a time" because honestly we do get bright, sunny days scattered throughout the winter that breaks things up. We get some snowfall as well but it usually melts off within a day or two unless your potential home here is at a higher elevation.
Also remember that the daylight hours are short here during the winter given our northern latitude, so it gets light roughly at about 9 AM and dark at about 4:30 PM during those months. If your wife is potentially sensitive/depressed to having prolonged dark days, week after week, then you may want to use some of the money you have left over to buy a winter home in Martinque. That way if the winter gray/damp/drizzle here drives you nuts, you can simply head south!
PT is smaller than PA and is often perceived as more "touristy" although I think "artsy/craftsy" might be a better descriptor. Probably a good thing though as there is not a lot of other industry in PT but you're retiring so finding a job won't matter to you.
PA is often viewed a more "working class" or "blue collar" but we do get our share of tourists as well during the summer months. You asked what we liked the least about living here- for me it would be the driving distance to the airport. My wife and I travel frequently domestically and internationally. Travel time to Seatac International airport is a good three hours from PA, longer if there is traffic, slow moving motor homes, road work etc. There is a little commuter flight (Kenmore Air) that runs from the PA airport to Boeing Field but I've never taken it as I typically use trips to the airport to run around Seattle for various errands and need my car for that.
Another consideration for you would be access to medical care. You mentioned you have a medical condition that causes heat sensitivity. I anticipate you'll need to see a medical specialist from time to time. Basically that means travel to Seattle (or Olympia/Tacoma). Furthermore, you'll also have to travel off of the peninsula for other things as well such as service on many brands of foreign cars, higher end shopping, restaurants, attorneys etc. etc.
Last, don't underestimate the pull of family. For instance, if all of your grandkids live in the Sacramento area, will your wife be happy living a 14 hour drive away from them if you move to PA?
If you're retired, why not rent a place in Portland for 3 or 6 months and then a place in PA/PT for 3 or 6 months. Decide which region you like better and then buy a home there. I don't foresee the real estate market getting significantly better any time soon, so there is no rush to buy a retirement home IMO.
I won't address Portland living as typically people are interested in comparing it to Seattle, which is a whole different kettle of fish than small town life on the peninsula.
Anyway, just a few off the cuff items as "food for thought". Good Luck!
Last edited by Dendrite; 11-14-2010 at 08:31 PM..
Reason: mis-spelled word
If your wife craves the sun, be realistic about moving to a region that can be gray and drizzly for several weeks at a time during the winter. This typically lasts from November or so through March or even April- yes, that's upwards of half of the calendar year! Even though it seems like it some winters I would hesitate to say gray "for months at a time" because honestly we do get bright, sunny days scattered throughout the winter that breaks things up. We get some snowfall as well but it usually melts off within a day or two unless your potential home here is at a higher elevation.
Also remember that the daylight hours are short here during the winter given our northern latitude, so it gets light roughly at about 9 AM and dark at about 4:30 PM during those months. If your wife is potentially sensitive/depressed to having prolonged dark days, week after week, then you may want to use some of the money you have left over to buy a winter home in Martinque. That way if the winter gray/damp/drizzle here drives you nuts, you can simply head south!
PT is smaller than PA and is often perceived as more "touristy" although I think "artsy/craftsy" might be a better descriptor. Probably a good thing though as there is not a lot of other industry in PT but you're retiring so finding a job won't matter to you.
Oh and I have 1 daughter in Portland and the other just accepted a job in Seattle. But I do have 30 yrs of friends in Sacramento that we are leaving behind. I will probably continue to visit them.
PA is often viewed a more "working class" or "blue collar" but we do get our share of tourists as well during the summer months. You asked what we liked the least about living here- for me it would be the driving distance to the airport. My wife and I travel frequently domestically and internationally. Travel time to Seatac International airport is a good three hours from PA, longer if there is traffic, slow moving motor homes, road work etc. There is a little commuter flight (Kenmore Air) that runs from the PA airport to Boeing Field but I've never taken it as I typically use trips to the airport to run around Seattle for various errands and need my car for that.
Another consideration for you would be access to medical care. You mentioned you have a medical condition that causes heat sensitivity. I anticipate you'll need to see a medical specialist from time to time. Basically that means travel to Seattle (or Olympia/Tacoma). Furthermore, you'll also have to travel off of the peninsula for other things as well such as service on many brands of foreign cars, higher end shopping, restaurants, attorneys etc. etc.
Last, don't underestimate the pull of family. For instance, if all of your grandkids live in the Sacramento area, will your wife be happy living a 14 hour drive away from them if you move to PA?
If you're retired, why not rent a place in Portland for 3 or 6 months and then a place in PA/PT for 3 or 6 months. Decide which region you like better and then buy a home there. I don't foresee the real estate market getting significantly better any time soon, so there is no rush to buy a retirement home IMO.
I won't address Portland living as typically people are interested in comparing it to Seattle, which is a whole different kettle of fish than small town life on the peninsula.
Anyway, just a few off the cuff items as "food for thought". Good Luck!
Great advice... thanks.
I will have to talk to people at the hospital in PA to see what they think of my living there. Its a rare disease called mastocytosis. My body makes too many mast cells. When I have a problem I need an IV of benedryl which I think they could deal with. There is nothing else to do but track it which requires MRI, bone density scans, and bone marrow biopsy. But that is only required every few years. If I get really bad, because it is progressive, there is no cure, only experimental chemo. Which is only available at a few places in the US. I have had this for 30 years and it is progressive but I should be ok till old age gets me.
As for the rain and lack of sun. I think if we do PA we will do what you suggest. Take the difference between our house sale and a PA cost and use that money to rent places in the sun ( but not hot places) and get out of town a few weeks every now and then.
Last edited by bobkeenan; 11-14-2010 at 10:51 PM..
Reason: fogot another point
We just spent a week in Port Townsend. Great little town but the housing is no bargain. Houses are actually a little more expensive than here in Sacramento. That surprised us. It also seems much more tourist oriented than I am used to. Port Angeles was no where as cute but seemed much more real. We also hit it on a sun lit fair day and with the mountains on one site and the strait on the other the scene was breathtaking. We could get a mansion there or get a slightly smaller home and have a LOT of money left over for other fun. Its also much more politically mixed. Sacramento, especially in my neighborhood, if you dont' espouse socialism you are considered a moron. I like more fair debates.
And I have a rare disease where I cannot take heat and sun at the same time... so I will love it there... my wife will crave the sun though.
Sounds like PA is a better bet. PT may be way too liberal for you.
Too bad though, PT really is an awesome place. But then liberal towns are always nicer places to live.
Sounds like PA is a better bet. PT may be way too liberal for you.
Too bad though, PT really is an awesome place. But then liberal towns are always nicer places to live.
Name a nice city that isn't liberal?
Totally true. AND Most of my current friends are liberal. They are great friends as long as we leave politics out of it. But during Pres. elections things always get very strained. I can leave it out of conversations but my liberal friends just seem to get filled with angst, anger, and Hate..... Well at least we get a 2 year break now till the next one.
We also get a better deal on a home in PA AND PT is not that far of a drive away!
If your wife craves the sun, be realistic about moving to a region that can be gray and drizzly for several weeks at a time during the winter. This typically lasts from November or so through March or even April- yes, that's upwards of half of the calendar year! Even though it seems like it some winters I would hesitate to say gray "for months at a time" because honestly we do get bright, sunny days scattered throughout the winter that breaks things up. We get some snowfall as well but it usually melts off within a day or two unless your potential home here is at a higher elevation.
Also remember that the daylight hours are short here during the winter given our northern latitude, so it gets light roughly at about 9 AM and dark at about 4:30 PM during those months. If your wife is potentially sensitive/depressed to having prolonged dark days, week after week, then you may want to use some of the money you have left over to buy a winter home in Martinque. That way if the winter gray/damp/drizzle here drives you nuts, you can simply head south!
PT is smaller than PA and is often perceived as more "touristy" although I think "artsy/craftsy" might be a better descriptor. Probably a good thing though as there is not a lot of other industry in PT but you're retiring so finding a job won't matter to you.
PA is often viewed a more "working class" or "blue collar" but we do get our share of tourists as well during the summer months. You asked what we liked the least about living here- for me it would be the driving distance to the airport. My wife and I travel frequently domestically and internationally. Travel time to Seatac International airport is a good three hours from PA, longer if there is traffic, slow moving motor homes, road work etc. There is a little commuter flight (Kenmore Air) that runs from the PA airport to Boeing Field but I've never taken it as I typically use trips to the airport to run around Seattle for various errands and need my car for that.
Another consideration for you would be access to medical care. You mentioned you have a medical condition that causes heat sensitivity. I anticipate you'll need to see a medical specialist from time to time. Basically that means travel to Seattle (or Olympia/Tacoma). Furthermore, you'll also have to travel off of the peninsula for other things as well such as service on many brands of foreign cars, higher end shopping, restaurants, attorneys etc. etc.
Last, don't underestimate the pull of family. For instance, if all of your grandkids live in the Sacramento area, will your wife be happy living a 14 hour drive away from them if you move to PA?
If you're retired, why not rent a place in Portland for 3 or 6 months and then a place in PA/PT for 3 or 6 months. Decide which region you like better and then buy a home there. I don't foresee the real estate market getting significantly better any time soon, so there is no rush to buy a retirement home IMO.
I won't address Portland living as typically people are interested in comparing it to Seattle, which is a whole different kettle of fish than small town life on the peninsula.
Anyway, just a few off the cuff items as "food for thought". Good Luck!
Thanks for that good information and advice. I've been thinking of moving to the Peninsula for the past couple of years. Don't know yet when I'll be able to, but I'm trying to get all the information about it that I can.
We just spent a week in Port Townsend. Great little town but the housing is no bargain. Houses are actually a little more expensive than here in Sacramento. That surprised us. It also seems much more tourist oriented than I am used to. Port Angeles was no where as cute but seemed much more real. We also hit it on a sun lit fair day and with the mountains on one site and the strait on the other the scene was breathtaking. We could get a mansion there or get a slightly smaller home and have a LOT of money left over for other fun. Its also much more politically mixed. Sacramento, especially in my neighborhood, if you dont' espouse socialism you are considered a moron. I like more fair debates.
.
I have zero experience at (insert Port whatever here), but how the hell are you considering Portland given the bolded part of the quote? Seriously, you're going from just to the right of Bill Maher (Sacramento) to so far left of Bill Maher that even he'd call the people nuts (Portland).
You already saw the weather up here. It's gonna get worse from what I'm told due to that Il Nina thing. It'll be a fun ride at least. Entire western side of the state got absolutely slammed by a massive windstorm all day.
Miami. Phoenix (if you can tolerate the weather). Atlanta (if you can tolerate the weather AND the traffic). The "other" Portland (Maine). I would imagine Hartford is probably pretty conservative. I could go on. It's not always an accurate benchmark, though it is useful. Though it's somewhat tainted by the fact that low-income types that flock to urban areas/tenaments/etc. tend to be highly liberal, which sort of skews the statistics.
Take Seattle here...the 2 nicest cities are Medina and Mercer Island, and they're much more conservative than the surrounding area.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
